Applying to Law School
There are many different paths in deciding to attend law school. In many cases, students may not even consider law school until after graduation when they are out in the workforce. Others come into college thinking they want to attend law school and decide along the way that it is not for them. Others enter college knowing they want to go to law school and do just that immediately after graduation. The point is, there is no one path.
Unlike medical school or some other graduate programs, there are no course pre-requisites for law school. The only requirements are that you take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and have a bachelor's degree. Repeating for emphasis: there are NO courses that you must take as an undergraduate in order to apply to law school. You may want to take a class that is law-related to see if you like the material, but there is no requirement that you do so.
Application Timeline
What follows below is a timeline you might follow in an ideal world. You'll notice that the timeline begins in the junior year. If you are a freshman or sophomore, you really do not need to be worried about law school yet. And, even as a junior, you have plenty of time to prepare. If you plan on attending law school directly after you graduate, it is best to begin the application process in the summer after your junior year. If you can get some of the application done before the fall of your senior year, it will make your life a lot easier in terms of handling your regular courseload as well as submitting your applications. This is particularly true of your personal statement: optimally, you should have that drafted before you return to school in the fall of your senior year.
Junior Year
Spring Semester
- If you are taking the LSAT in June (encouraged if you want to attend law school the fall after you graduate), take a few practice LSAT tests to see how you perform on each section.
- Register for an LSAT-Prep course or put yourself on a firm study schedule if you plan to study on your own. One guideline for studying is to think of your LSAT preparation as one of your regular classes during the spring semester; devote the amount of time to test preparation that you would typically devote to a class.
- Register for the Law School Credentials Assembly Service (CAS). This will be the portal through which you will compile your application materials and apply to law schools.
- If you know you plan to take the LSAT in June, register for it. Seats often fill quickly at certain testing centers, so sign up early.
Summer
- Take the June LSAT.
- Begin drafting a personal statement.
- Ask two or three professors to write letters of recommendations on your behalf.
- Send recommendation links to your recommenders through your CAS account.
- Prepare information packet for each of your recommenders including:
- Link to submit the online form (from CAS)
- Transcript
- Resume
- Samples of your work from the class or classes you took with the Professor
- Narrow down your list of potential law schools, considering your LSAT score (or your average score on practice tests) and GPA.
- Register for the October LSAT if you are not satisfied with your June score.
- Complete Registrar's Transcript Request Form accompanied by CAS Transcript Request Form (available at LSAC) to be sent to the CAS.
Senior Year
Fall
- Attend the Law School Application Workshop led by Prof. Nemacheck--see information on the "workshops" section of the prelaw advising webpage.
- Take the October LSAT.
- Attend Career Center Law School Forum.
- Finalize personal statement.
- Check in with recommenders, make sure recommendations have arrived with LSAC.
- Send CAS reports to schools to which you wish to apply.
- Complete on-line applications through LSAC.
Winter / Spring
- Visit schools, take a tour, observe classes.
- You may be able to set up a meeting with an admissions officer if you are interested in doing so.
